CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers finally got past the second round and face-planted in the Eastern Conference finals.
They weren’t ready for the Knicks or the big stage.
The lights were too bright again.
Cleveland’s season ended with a resounding, demoralizing and embarrassing 130-93 loss on Monday night in Game 4 to the New York Knicks, who swept the series and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
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Playing on tired and wobbly legs after failing to put Toronto and Detroit away before seven games in the earlier rounds, the Cavs, whose fate was sealed when they blew a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost Game 1 at Madison Square Garden, had no answer for anything the Knicks threw at them.
They got out-played, out-shot, out-rebounded and out-coached.
“We did this to ourselves,” said Mitchell, who scored 31 in the close-out loss. “We didn’t give our team a chance because we didn’t take care of business. You can’t play with your food. We had an opportunity in Game 1 and we blew that.
“We had an opportunity, but give credit where credit is due.”
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And now that they’ve fallen short, the Cavs head into what will likely be a tumultuous summer that will trigger a major roster overhaul and perhaps other moves.
This wasn’t the plan. Cleveland made a blockbuster trade at the deadline in February, sending guard Darius Garland, part of its “Core Four” to the Los Angeles Clippers for James Harden, who was supposed to take pressure off Mitchell.
Cleveland’s top player approved the Garland swap, but other than a few games here and there, he and Harden never truly meshed as intended. The Cavs, who just 28.9% (48 of 166) on 3-pointers in the series, never outgrew their growing pains.
“This was the first time going through what we were going to go through,” said Harden. “Now we have to take another two steps and get even better. … I feel like we didn’t have a fair chance. We did play one quarter of Cavs basketball offensively. If you’re not making shots, you’re not going to beat anybody.”
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Harden has a $42.3 million player option for next season that he’s expected to decline to re-sign with the Cavs as a free agent. But the 36-year-old didn’t perform up to offensive expectations and was a virtual turnstile on defense.
Mitchell’s future is more complicated. He can be offered a five-year, $350 million super-max extension by the Cavs as early as this offseason, but the team will likely wait due to several financial factors, and still must decide if the seven-time All-Star is worth the investment.
With the Knicks up by 33 in the fourth, Mitchell and Cleveland’s other starters were mercifully replaced. The 29-year-old went to the bench and watched a team he once cheered for as a kid win its 11th straight playoff game.
Mitchell feels the Cavs took a significant step this season and he’s determined to get Cleveland a title.
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“I love it here,” he said when asked about the extension. “I don’t know how else to say it. I have no doubt these guys can get there. We have unfinished business.”
Cleveland’s stunning flame-out in the conference finals is only going to fuel more speculation about coach Kenny Atkinson’s future. He guided the team to a No. 1 seed in his first season a year ago before a disappointing, second-round exit against Indiana.
Atkinson helped the Cavs take a step deeper into the postseason, but it’s not certain that will be enough to satisfy demanding owner Dan Gilbert, who has dropped over $400 million on a team that hasn’t delivered him a second title.
Harden and Mitchell staunchly defended Atkinson.
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“We did something we haven’t done since 2018,” Mitchell said. “I love Kenny. We love Kenny. We ride with Kenny. That’s all that matters. We’re in this together.”
New York exposed all of Cleveland’s on-court flaws and may have set the stage for Gilbert to make even bolder moves. There’s little doubt that seeing his team get completely overwhelmed in Game 4 — with thousands of New York fans chanting “Knicks in 4!” — stung badly.
The Cavs will closely monitor superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s unsettled situation in Milwaukee. The Bucks have reportedly had past interest in 24-year-old Cleveland forward Evan Mobley.
And then there’s LeBron James and the possibility the NBA’s all-time scoring leader could bring his storied career full circle by coming back home a second time. He’s a free agent, currently at odds with the Los Angeles Lakers and surveying the landscape.
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At the moment, Cleveland appears to need him again.
When asked, Mitchell wouldn’t even entertain the possibility of joining forces with James. His primary concern was what went wrong against the Knicks.
The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche hoped to turn the tide in the 2026 Western Conference Final after losing the first two games at home with the return of two-time Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar and for 20 minutes in Game 3, it appeared they did. But the wheels came off after that, and now they must attempt to avoid being swept with the possibility of being without their Hart Trophy finalist.
With Nathan MacKinnon’s status uncertain due to an apparent knee injury, the Avalanche look to extend the series when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 4 at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday. The 2026 Maurice Richard Trophy winner with a career-high 53 goals, MacKinnon was hit on the inside of his right knee while blocking a shot in the second period of Game 3 and played sparingly the rest of the way.
Fans who want to wager on the 2026 NHL Playoffs can use the latest BetMGM promo code.
Colorado was clinging to a 3-2 lead at the time of the injury after having scored three times in the opening period, obviously energized by the return of Makar after the defenseman missed the first two games of the series with an upper-body injury. MacKinnon notched an assist on captain Gabriel Landeskog’s goal 3:21 into the contest and Nazem Kadri doubled the lead less than four minutes later before Jack Drury scored while short-handed with 6:45 remaining in the session.
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But the Golden Knights stormed back to even the game in the second, beginning with captain Mark Stone’s power-play goal 19 seconds in. Stone was back in the lineup after being sidelined for five contests with a lower-body injury.
William Karlsson and Keegan Kolesar also tallied in the middle period and Tomas Hertl snapped the 3-3 tie at 8:21 of the third before Brett Howden scored into an empty net in the final minute to seal the comeback victory and pull even with teammate Pavel Dorofeyev for the postseason lead with 10 goals.
Stone, Karlsson and Hertl each added an assist while Mitch Marner and defenseman Kaedan Korczak notched two apiece for Vegas, which is one win away from the third Stanley Cup Final appearance in the franchise’s nine-season history. The odds certainly are in the Golden Knights’ favor as teams facing a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series the round before the Stanley Cup Final are 0-49 all-time.
Ivan Barbashev has scored two goals and set up another in the series for Vegas, Howden has tallied twice and Marner collected three assists. Marner leads all players this postseason with 21 points while Jack Eichel, who along with Hertl has a goal and two assists against the Avalanche, is second with 18.
Landeskog has produced two of Colorado’s six goals in the conference final while Kadri and Ross Colton both have recorded a tally and an assist. Blue-liner Devon Toews leads the team with three points – all assists – in the series.
Despite MacKinnon’s questionable status, the NHL betting odds at the major sportsbooks see the Avalanche as favorites in Game 4, as they are listed at -115 on the money line. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are priced at about -105. Learn how to read betting odds here.
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL GAME 4
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TEAM
DRAFTKINGS
FANDUEL
CAESARS
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BETMGM
Colorado Avalanche
-115
-115
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-115
-115
Vegas Golden Knights
-105
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-104
-105
-105
Game 4 Best Bets
Golden Knights money line (-104, FanDuel)
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Whether it be because of the absence of Makar or the caliber of their opponent or both, the Avalanche did not resemble the team that went 8-1 over the first two rounds of the postseason. They appeared to be back on track after one period of Game 3, but things went sideways. Even if MacKinnon is in the lineup on Tuesday, he likely won’t be at full strength and Colorado’s morale has to be at an all-time low following the team’s collapse on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are 18-4-1 overall since John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy as head coach in late March and 2-0 this postseason when they’ve had the opportunity to close out a series. I like their record in that situation to remain unblemished.
Pavel Dorofeyev Over 0.5 points (-135, BetMGM)
Dorofeyev had his six-game point streak halted in Game 3, thanks in part to a somewhat controversial call. The 25-year-old Russian right wing had an apparent first-period goal waved off as the officials ruled he batted the puck into the net with his hand and the decision was upheld after video review, although the puck appeared to hit the shaft of his stick in one camera angle. Nevertheless, Dorofeyev has landed on the scoresheet in nine of his last 12 postseason contests and I believe he’ll do so again in Game 4.
Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman has swung the roster-shaping pendulum toward the defense in 2026 and beyond, quietly maneuvering through free agency while adding upside veterans on one-year deals. On offense, Dallas Goedert is back, but Nakobe Dean (Raiders), Reed Blankenship (Texans), Jaelan Phillips (Panthers), and Adoree’ Jackson (free agency) have all departed. Marcus Epps is back, and the Birds added longtime veteran J.T. Gray to the backend after trading Sydney Brown. While there are new names to know, the bulk of a Super Bowl-caliber roster remains, and has been infused with star pass rusher Jonathan Greenard.
During the NFL draft, Philadelphia added five offensive players, with their first five picks going to offensive players who’ll play key roles in the future. Of the five, only Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers appear set for Day 1 roles. Markel Bell, Micah Morris, and others may not seed the field until 2027 at the earliest. On defense, the Eagles added Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski and New Mexico pass rusher Keyshawn James-Newby, with an intriguing International Pathway Program participant, Uar Bernard, sandwiched in between.
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With OTAs set to begin and the mandatory mini-camp fast approaching, we’re ranking the Eagles’ non-quarterback position groups from least to most concerning
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 28: Cooper DeJean #33 and Quinyon Mitchell #27 of the Philadelphia Eagles line up for a drill during the Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp at NovaCare Complex on July 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
1. CB
# 27 Quinyon Mitchell#33 Cooper DeJean#2 Riq Woolen#7 Kelee Ringo#23 Jakorian Bennett#32 Jonathan Jones#22 Mac McWilliams#41 Tariq Castro-Fields
After losing Jaelan Phillips, Reed Blankenship, and Nakobe Dean, the strength of this defense will be at cornerback. Philadelphia has gone from uncertainty at the position to being absolutely loaded after landing Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen on a one-year deal worth up to $15 million. The move allows Cooper DeJean to remain a versatile weapon. At the same time, Michael Carter II could transition to safety, which allows the Birds to keep Jakorian Bennett and Kelee Ringo in reserve roles.
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The Eagles’ revamped defense will give some of the top passing offenses a run for their money, matching up with outside pass catchers and in the slot. Woolen possesses unmatched measurables for a cornerback as he’s tall, athletic, physical, fast, and has top-flight ball skills. Even more impressive, he produced the second-highest lockdown percentage (65%) in the NFL this past season. According to NBC Sports Philadelphia and Sharp Football, the Eagles used man coverage on 24.5% of their snaps last season. That ranked 12th in the NFL, whereas the Seahawks’ man usage (15.2%) ranked 27th.
DeVonta Smith (1,008) and A.J. Brown (1,003) are the only Eagles WR duo to produce 1,000+ receiving yards each in the same season, but the duo will be split up at some point after June 1. Looking to add more to the offense, the Eagles traded up to secure Makai Lemon. The explosive Hollywood Brown had 49 catches for 587 yards and 5 TDs last season. Darius Cooper is the player most impacted by Brown joining the roster. At the same time, Johnny Wilson will look to regain his training camp form from 2025, before he suffered a significant knee injury. This depth chart could drastically change around June 1. The addition of Dontayvion Wicks via trade makes things even more interesting.
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3. Offensive line
LT: #68 Jordan MailataLG: #69 Landon DickersonC: #51 Cam JurgensRG: #56 Tyler SteenRT: #65 Lane Johnson
The Eagles’ offensive line suffered multiple injuries in 2025 but will look to rebound under the new offensive line coach. The Eagles have hired Chris Kuper as offensive line coach. The Vikings didn’t retain Kuper after four years in the same position. During Kuper’s tenure, Minnesota ranked 32nd in pressure rate allowed on the interior in three of the last four seasons, including 2025, a ranking that led to his dismissal. Landon Dickerson was excellent in 2024 but finished the 2025 regular season with a 60.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked only 51st among 81 qualifying guards. Jordan Mailata didn’t replicate his elite 2024 campaign, but he was still Philadelphia’s best offensive lineman. His 83.8 PFF overall grade ranked seventh among all offensive tackles. Lane Johnson, 35, is a future Hall of Famer with a resume that includes six Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro nods, and a pair of Super Bowl wins. Johnson’s value is clear: the Eagles were 8-2 with him in the lineup this season, versus 3-4 without him. During his tenure in Philadelphia, the team’s record is 94-41-1 when he plays and 15-27 when he doesn’t.
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4. Defensive line
#98 Jalen Carter#90 Jordan Davis#97 Moro Ojomo#95 Ty Robinson#94 Byron Young#96 Gabe Hall
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Philadelphia has an elite trio with Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo, with Byron Young and Ty Robinson as capable backups. Despite two badly injured shoulders, Carter was the Eagles’ lone Pro Bowl starter. In 12 games this season, he had 33 tackles, 41 QB pressures, 11 quarterback hits, and three sacks. Ojomo’s 71.0 PFF grade was the 80th best in the NFL last season, but he’s much improved, and Ojomo saw his snap count increase to 60 percent in his third year. He started nine games for the Eagles this season and played in all 17, finishing second on the team in sacks.
Ojomo will enter the final year of his deal with a $3,624,446 cap hit. Jordan Davis just signed a three-year, $78 million deal.
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5. Running back
#26 Saquon Barkley#8 Tank Bigsby#28 Will Shipley#39 Dameon Pierce#34 Carson Steele
Barkley played in 16 games (16 starts), running for 1,140 yards on 280 carries (4.1 avg.) with 7 TDs, adding 273 receiving yards on 37 catches (7.4 avg.) With two touchdowns, he became the first Eagle since LeSean McCoy in 2013-14 to post back-to-back 1,000+ yard rushing seasons. A key trade acquisition, the hard-running Bigsby participated in 16 contests (one start) with the Eagles, recording 356 rushing yards on 63 carries (5.7 avg.) and 2 touchdowns. Will Shipley will try to regain his momentum, while the Eagles added former Texans running back Dameon Pierce for more competition.
Last spring, the Eagles traded up a spot in the draft to pick Jihaad Campbell, whose playing time slowed when Dean returned to the lineup. Dean has departed, and Campbell will miss the off-season due to shoulder surgery. Linebacker depth is one of the strengths for the Eagles, and they’ll have Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon Jr. looking for breakout moments. Chance Campbell is on the roster, and the Eagles just added former Ravens linebacker Chandler Martin on a two-year deal.
Ebiketie joins Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka as athletic, hybrid pass rushers who can get after the opposing quarterbacks. The Eagles could still add Brandon Graham to this group. A solid run defender and explosive pass rusher, Smith missed seven games in 2025, logging 31 tackles, 3 sacks, one forced fumble, 33 QB pressures, 24 QB hurries, and a 67.7 PFF grade in 12 games. Hunt became the first Eagle to lead the team in both sacks (6.5) and INTs (3) in the same season. He is the second Eagle to have 6.0+ sacks and 3.0+ INTs in a season, joining Seth Joyner (1991-92). Tryon-Shoyinka earned a 72.2 overall PFF defensive grade, and a pass-rush grade of 67.6, with a run-defense grade of 66.2. Tryon-Shoyinka generated 8 total pressures, 0 sacks, 6 hurries, and 2 QB hits. In 12 games during the 2025 campaign, Greenard had 47 quarterback pressures and a pass rush win rate of 23.3 percent. Pro Football Focus rated Greenard as the 18th-best pass-rush graded player (77.6) among 118 qualifying edge rushers.
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8. Tight end
#88 Dallas Goedert
#87 Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt#83 Johnny Mundt#81 Grant Calcaterra#87 Stone Smartt#84 E.J. Jenkins
#36 Cameron Latu
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#45 Dae’Quan Wright
Dallas Goedert is back on a one-year deal. Goedert started 15 games, catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high and Eagles franchise high 11 touchdown catches. Philadelphia drafted his successor, landing Eli Stowers in the second round. A Former college teammate of Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma, eaching the end of his rookie contract. Calcaterra played in 62 games with 22 starts. Mundt will play the third tight end, run-blocking role. Cameron Latu will assume the role of fullback. In a reduced role behind Mason Taylor, Smartt caught seven of nine targets for 52 yards while appearing in 15 games for the Jets in the 2025 season.
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Smartt played mostly on special teams and drew at least one target in only three of his 15 appearances for the Jets. He spent the previous three seasons with the Chargers and has just one touchdown catch in 53 regular-season NFL games.
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9. Safety
#24 Drew Mukuba#35 Michael Carter II#29 Marcus Epps#48 J.T. Gray#31 Andre’ Sam#49 Brandon Johnson
#21 Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech
#37 Tucker Large
#36 Maximus Pulley
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The Eagles traded Brown to Atlanta and quickly re-signed Marcus Epps and added J.T. Gray. Mukuba is a guaranteed starter in Year 2, despite returning from a season-ending injury as a rookie. The second safety spot is up for grabs after Reed Blankenship’s departure. Epps is a solid contributor, but he’s aging and not a dominant game-changer. Gray is a special teams standout, while Sam and Johnson are back after spending 2025 on the practice squad.
Unlike my father, who never touched a golf club and didn’t think his progeny might want to either, I tried to get my kids into the game. Mission un-accomplished. Both are grown and neither plays. But I love them anyway, and I think the feeling is mutual.
In that spirit, I’ve drawn up a list of 5 golfy items they might consider giving me for Father’s Day.
Sun Mountain Pathfinder PX4 Push Cart
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Sun Mountain Pathfinder PX4 Push Cart
An update of the Pathfinder 4, the PX4 has many of the same winning features, plus several updates. Like the Pathfinder 4, the PX4 folds/unfolds in two easy steps and has built-in storage. The new single-piece handle allows the cart to be pushed with one hand and the updated console tray has dual-umbrella attachments. The two front wheels extend to accommodate larger bags (a 5mm Allen wrench can make this adjustment). This cart includes a drink holder. Details: All-new accessory console holds balls, tees, cell phone, scorecard, etc. For additional storage, the cart has a mesh basket and a velour-lined valuables pouch. Dual umbrella holders allow an umbrella to be placed on either side of the console. Bags are secured to the cart with adjustable length bungee cords. E-Z Latch System allows the cart to fold in two easy steps. Extendable axles on the front wheels to accommodate larger bags. Weight : 17.2 lbs Wheels : 4
With age comes wisdom. Or at least an understanding of one’s limits. Though I’m still capable of lugging my own bag, I feel better — and play better— when I wheel my clubs around. This fresh update of the Pathfinder does its job without calling attention to itself. It’s lightweight, easy-folding and furnished with all kinds of helpful extras, including a new console for balls, scorecard, cell phone and such. It also has a single-piece handle that allows you to push and steer effortlessly with one hand.
Over the years, I’ve developed what I think of as a decent short game, the Darwinian result of missing tons of greens. Recently, though, my chipping hit a setback when my trusty 56-degree wedge went missing. My old wedge was a Vokey. I loved its look and feel. This latest iteration has a similarly sleek profile, along with deeper spin-milled grooves. Each one is 5 percent larger by volume, so they’re easier to clean and more effective at imparting spin. They’re also heat-treated, which makes them longer-lasting. Of course, that only helps if you don’t lose the club.
Theragun Elite
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Therabody Theragun Elite
Theragun Elite Premium. Effective. Elevated. The Theragun Elite is our quietest smart percussive therapy device. Elegantly designed, lightweight, and fully personalized for your body’s needs. Thanks to its unparalleled power, the Theragun Elite is your ultimate wellness partner. Now more personalized than ever with our guided app experience to reduce your deep muscle tension, whether it comes from everyday life, work, or workouts. Unrivaled Power. Remarkably Quiet™. Proprietary brushless motor with QuietForce Technology™ delivers renowned Theragun power, while being quieter than ever. Bluetooth Enabled Smart Percussive Therapy™ The Therabody app connects seamlessly via Bluetooth to deliver customized wellness routines pulled from your activity data. Our app will guide you through each wellness routine, showing you all the unexpected ways our device can help enhance your life. 16mm Amplitude 16mm amplitude that reaches 60% deeper into the muscle than consumer-grade vibration massagers to stimulate circulation, generate heat, and release your deepest tension. Features Proprietary brushless motor with QuietForce Technology™ Smart Percussive Therapy™with Bluetooth connectivity 3 built-in app-guided preset routines OLED screen Customizable speed range (1750-2400 PPMs) Force meter Delivers up to 40 lbs of no-stall force Wireless charging enabled Internal lithium-ion battery (120 minutes) Theragun Triangle ergonomic handle design 1-Year warranty Includes Hard case 5 easy-to-clean closed-cell-foam attachments in pouch Dampener – Used mostly for tender or bony areas. Perfect for overall use. Standard Ball – Perfect for overall use on large and small muscle groups. Cone – Used mostly for pinpoint muscle treatment, including the hands and feet. Thumb – Used mostly for trigger points and the lower back. Wedge – Perfect for shoulder blades and IT bands and commonly used for “scraping” and“flushing,” which help to decrease the amount of lactic acid in muscles. Power adapter
The older I’ve gotten, the easier it’s become to shake off the pain of an ugly score. Muscle aches are another matter. They keep getting worse. Hot baths help. So does stretching. But for instant relief, available anywhere, I’m partial to this portable masseur. Lightweight and Bluetooth-enabled, its driven by a quiet, brushless motor that allows the mechanism to do its soothing work at a speed and intensity of your choosing. The accompanying app is another bonus, generating customized wellness routines based on your activity data and guiding you through each step of recovery.
Personalized Titleist Pro V1s
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Titleist Pro V1 2025 Double Digit Personalized Golf Balls
h2>THE GREATEST COMBINATION OF SPEED, SPIN AND FEEL For players who prioritize total performance. New faster high gradient core Speed amplifying high-flex casing layer Spherically-tiled 388 tetrahedral dimple design Soft cast urethane elastomer cover Product Features New faster high gradient core delivers more speed and iron and wedge spin for more control Low long game spin from a speed amplifying high-flex casing layer Penetrating and consistent flight from a spherically-tiled 388 tetrahedral dimple design Excellent greenside spin from a soft cast urethane elastomer cover Player Benefits Extraordinary Distance Increased Drop-and-Stop™ control Very low long game spin Penetrating trajectory Consistent flight Very soft feel What’s New – (what performance attributes have improved) 2025 Pro V1 and Pro V1x produce more speed off the tee, more control with irons, more spin with wedges and more opportunity to shoot lower scores. Player Profile For players who prioritize total performance. Available Colors and Play Numbers White golf balls are available with play numbers 1-4, 5-8, and all the same play number 00 or 1- 99. High optic yellow golf balls are available with play numbers 1-4. Not available for purchase or shipment to Australia.
It’s been estimated that 1 to 3 billion golf balls go missing around the world each year. Because I plan to keep contributing to the count, I could always use replenishments. Pro VIs have long been my preference, and these days, you can get them personalized. Though I’d never want to print my name on golf balls — why leave evidence of my ineptitude in streams and woods wherever I play? — I like the idea of a cheeky phrase. Dad Bod Distance. Warning-Track Power. World’s Best Dad and Worst Golfer. My kids can choose.
Del Campo 1776 socks
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Del Campo 1776 Socks
Perfect for cookouts, July 4th energy every day, and spontaneous USA chants.
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Cliché? Maybe. But socks are a Father’s Day staple for a reason. Simple and affordable, they’re essential items on and off the course, so much a part of life that we take them for granted until we run out of our last good pair. Del Campo’s are made out of breathable fabric, with a cushioned heel and toe for comfort and an athletic fit. I like the version with a smiley-face logo, but they also come emblazoned with an American flag, just in time for July 4th. What more could you ask for in a Father’s Day stocking stuffer?
Former heavyweight boxer Axel Schulz says losing to steroid cheat Francois Botha hurt more than missing out on a massive rematch with George Foreman.
Schulz famously lost a controversial decision to Foreman in 1995 in a fight many believed he deserved to win. A rematch was ordered, but Foreman instead vacated the IBF title, costing Schulz a second fight that could have earned him millions.
But according to Schulz, the real frustration came later that year against Botha.
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The German heavyweight lost a split decision to Botha in front of a record television audience in Germany, only for the South African fighter to later test positive for steroids and be stripped of the title.
“I was more upset by that one than I was fighting Foreman again,” Schulz said.
Schulz never received a rematch despite the failed drug test, something he clearly still feels strongly about decades later.
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The 57-year-old also believes the controversy helped push boxing toward stronger anti-doping rules in later years.
Today, Schulz works as a boxing analyst and businessman in Germany.
Alexandra Eala of Philippines returns to Iva Jovic of the U.S. during their first round men’s singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala suffered a first-round exit in the French Open singles tournament after losing to Iva Jovic, 6-4, 6-2, on Tuesday.
Despite a gritty showing, Eala only led once–a 1-0 advantage in the second set–in a match that lasted one hour and 40 minutes.
Jovic responded with back-to-back games before Eala held to love to level at 2-2.
That proved to be Eala’s final stand, as the American teen, currently No. 17 in the world, won four straight games to close out the match and advance to the second round against Emma Navarro.
Iva Jovic of the U.S. reacts as she plays against Alexandra Eala of Philippines during their first round men’s singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
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It was the first singles meeting between Eala and Jovic, who are also close friends and sometime doubles partners. The two embraced at the net after the match.
Eala bowed out early in her second straight Roland Garros main-draw appearance, but she is set to compete in the doubles tournament with partner and fellow rising star Victoria Mboko.
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The Filipino tennis star, ranked No. 37 in the WTA, put up a strong fight in the opening set, rallying from a 5-1 deficit.
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She broke twice to pull within 5-4, but Jovic broke back to seal the set.
Eala continues her French Open campaign as she and Mboko face the pair of Filipino-American Leylah Fernandez and Diana Shnaider.
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Usyk’s reputation has always felt untouchable, through a combination of his bewitching boxing, his refreshingly-upstanding personal nature, and that drive to give his beleaguered Ukraine something to celebrate in the face of inconceivable horrors.
Oleksandr Usyk during his tough clash with Rico Verhoeven (Reuters)
So, when the unified champion opted for a voluntary title defence against Rico Verhoeven, a kickboxing icon with just one pro boxing match to his name, it would have felt harsh to even bat an eyelid. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua both boxed UFC star Francis Ngannou over the last three years, and “AJ” even fought a YouTuber in Jake Paul six months ago. It was unexpected that Usyk would tread similar terrain, but after beating Fury, Joshua and Daniel Dubois twice each, he had earned a supposedly-easier outing.
That brought him to Saturday and to the pyramids of Giza, whose very existence have often raised unanswerable questions about invention and labour. And against Verhoeven, Usyk laboured in a way we have not seen before, with his usual invention distinctly lacking.
Yes, Verhoeven was bigger. Yes, as a non-boxer – but with the great Peter Fury in his corner – he approached this fight without the pressure that has consumed many of Usyk’s opponents. As Chris Algieri put it: he fought like a big man on the inside, and a small man on the outside.
But those aspects alone do not account for Verhoeven’s impressive display in Egypt, where this writer had him 97-93 up after 10 rounds, before Usyk’s late, controversial KO win. For as good as Verhoeven was, Usyk fought sluggishly and agitatedly.
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You could argue there’s an element of chicken and egg to this: was Usyk sluggish because he was struggling with Verhoeven’s application of weight, and was he agitated by the Dutchman’s movement – those twitchy feet and the constant circling away from Usyk’s southpaw power hand? To give Usyk his due credit, he eventually found his timing, range and rhythm, with uppercuts proving decisive as a tiring Verhoeven reverted to a higher, closer guard. It was one such shot that dropped Verhoeven, 37, in round 11.
And while much of the ensuing controversy (rightly) centred on the referee stopping the fight after the bell, there is an imperfect counter-argument that Verhoeven was given extra time to recover from the initial knockdown, as he was allowed to re-insert his mouthguard while in his corner. Two wrongs don’t make a right, of course, so have a third anyway: the scores were 95-95, 95-95, and 96-94 in Verhoeven’s favour after 10 rounds.
Usyk dropped Verhoeven late in round 11 before a controversial finish (Getty)
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In any case, as Steve Bunce wrote in these pages: “The first thing Usyk said when he was interviewed in the ring was not about the fight, but about a conversation he had with his daughter that very day. ‘She is in a bomb shelter,’ he said. Have we become so immune to human disaster that we hear that and still question why a man did not look and fight like he normally does?”
The problem for Usyk is that fans are fickle and unforgiving.
If the 39-year-old opts for a rematch with Verhoeven, his almost-impenetrable reputation will degrade slightly from two successive bouts with a kickboxer, at the expense of his mandatory challenger, Agit Kabayel, getting his rightful shot. Yet if Usyk chooses to face Kabayel, a sour taste will be left in many a mouth, with Verhoeven hard done by.
For what it’s worth, Kabayel’s promoter Frank Warren said “we’re not going to stand for” Usyk vs Rico 2, and Usyk vs Kabayel (perhaps in the latter’s native Germany) would be a strong match-up. On paper, it would be a tougher test for Usyk than the first Verhoeven fight, or even a rematch, in which the Ukrainian would likely figure out the kickboxer more quickly.
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Agit Kabayel is the WBC’s mandatory challenger to Usyk (Getty)
But boxing matches aren’t won on paper, if you’ll pardon a cliche. Verhoeven gave Usyk a tougher test than Joshua, Dubois and Fury, and with the multiple controversies that muddied the end of Saturday’s main event, the Dutchman deserves another shot at Usyk.
Yes, Verhoeven will likely get a big-name opponent in his next boxing match – because he will stay in the sport – but we saw how that went for Ngannou. He dropped Fury and was unlucky not to be awarded a points win over the “Gypsy King”, but he was annihilated by Joshua a few months later. Styles make fights, if you’ll pardon a second cliche.
Perhaps a solution is for Usyk to box Verhoeven again, and to vacate his WBC title so Kabayel can fight another contender for that belt. Usyk could then face Kabayel, if the latter is victorious, in 2027. At that point, Usyk will be 40 years old with just one fight left in his plan for three final bouts, the first of which was his duel with Verhoeven.
Yet based on Saturday, there is an argument that Usyk should get out sooner rather than later. He did have nothing left to prove, yet all of a sudden that has changed. All of a sudden, he is in a no-win situation for the first time.
Doc Redman had already looked away. His Sunday at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Visit Knoxville Open hadn’t gone according to plan. Redman caught and passed 54-hole leader Cooper Dossey, but Hunter Eichhorn fired a career-low, 10-under 61 to tie him and send the tournament to a playoff.
A win would give Redman two on the KFT season and put him in a fantastic position to re-earn a PGA Tour card after a dip in his game saw him lose privileges on the top circuit after the 2023 season. But golf hasn’t been easy for the former Clemson standout of late. So, when he rolled his 40-foot eagle attempt on the first playoff hole on Sunday, he quickly looked away and started walking, believing he had missed. But the ball kept rolling and then stopped on the lip.
It hung there for several seconds, the crowd urging it to drop. Then golf gave Doc Redman something back.
SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT 🏆
Doc Redman won the Visit Knoxville Open with a cliffhanger eagle on the first playoff hole! pic.twitter.com/6uAcP2hwMk
After missing a cut at the 2023 RSM Classic, Redman, a former college star at Clemson, went down to the Korn Ferry Tour and struggled. On the KFT, the courses are easier, and the scores are low. You have to be able to hit the gas pedal in order to win. In 2024, Redman needed to win the Korn Ferry Tour Finals to get back to the PGA Tour. He led with four holes to play but made a double bogey on 15 and a bogey on 17 to miss a playoff by one. After blessing him early on for years, golf has battered Doc Redman recently. Last spring, he took some time away from the game to be with his family and think about his future. He loved golf and wanted to keep pursuing his dream, but knew he wouldn’t find success without enjoying the grind.
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On Sunday in Knoxville, with a trophy in hand, Doc Redman got emotional as he talked about that break and the perspective he found while stepping away to be with his wife and newborn son.
“I just wasn’t happy playing golf,” Redman said. “I think the tough thing about golf is, especially out here, everyone’s so good, and if you’re not enjoying it, you’re not going to get the best out of your game. Then there’s almost no reason to be out here just kind of spinning your wheels. And we had just had my son, and I think I was just struggling with all the sacrifice there was in being away. So I needed kind of a reset to figure out why I was out here and refind kind of the love for it. So eventually I realized that, but it took a while.
“It’s always tough and it’s always going to be tough being away. And golf doesn’t always go your way,” Redman said later. “I think it’s easy to eat away at your confidence, your self-belief, and your image. So I think I’ve done a much better job of just whatever happened today wasn’t going to change my opinion of myself or how I’m playing and that’s made a big difference.”
Redman FaceTimed with his wife and son after the win, the tears welling in his eyes. Tears of happiness and of sacrifice — the price of the belief needed to stick to your dreams even when they seem so far away.
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All the emotions for Doc Redman — pro golfer, husband and father ❤️
With his second win of the season at the Visit Knoxville Open, he’s on the verge of a return to the @PGATOUR. pic.twitter.com/3XvV7Nq5M5
“They’re my biggest supporters and I love them very much. I miss them, but we’ll see them soon,” an emotional Redman said.
Redman thought about the break he took and how his wife’s support enabled him to recalibrate and keep going. Professional golf is a grind on all involved, and Redman is able to continue his climb because of the support he has around him — one that wouldn’t let him bow out.
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“Maybe it became obvious that I didn’t have a lot of other qualifications and this is what I’m best at,” Redman said, when asked if he thought about other pursuits during his time off. “So it’s a blessing to be able to pursue what you’re best at and get paid to do it and that’s pretty awesome. She makes a lot of sacrifices and I do, too, and it’s not easy, but being able do this is really cool.”
What Redman found during his golf hiatus was the realization that success, especially in golf, isn’t linear. It’s a constant ebb and flow. Often, players don’t reach their peak until later. Redman pointed to Brooks Koepka, who grinded up the European Tour ranks before getting to the PGA Tour and becoming one of his generation’s great major champions.
Success in golf is found in persistence — in coming back time and time again, even when you don’t want to. Water breaks a rock not because of its strength but because of its consistency.
“I think that’s something that would be great for me to reflect on and think a lot about and just give myself props for sticking with it,” Redman said. “I think I try and remind myself all the time of all the great players who are playing late in their years and don’t have success until they’re probably mid-30s, you know, especially at the PGA Tour level. I think that’s the beauty of golf is that there’s no rush, you’ve just got to stick with it.”
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Doc Redman never gave up, and now, after an improbable 40-foot eagle in Knoxville, he can finally see his return to the PGA Tour on the horizon.
Jack Pridham scored twice, Cameron Reid had a goal and three assists, and the Kitchener Rangers knocked off the Everett Silvertips 6-2 to record their second consecutive victory at the Memorial Cup tournament on Monday.
Christian Humphreys, Gabriel Chiarot and Cameron Arquette also scored for the Ontario Hockey League champions, who led 2-1 after the first period and 5-2 heading into the third at Prospera Place.
Rylan Gould had a goal and an assist for the Western Hockey League champion Silvertips, who slipped to 1-1. Matias Vanhanen also scored for the American squad.
The Silvertips, who outshot the Rangers 42-28, went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Rangers were 1-for-2.
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The Chicoutimi Sagueneens (1-1) play the Rangers (2-0) on Tuesday, while the host Kelowna Rockets (0-2) face the Silvertips (1-1) on Wednesday.
Hardik Pandya could be on his way out of Mumbai Indians after a disastrous outing in the Indian Premier League in IPL 2026. While MI finished ninth in the points table, Hardik also had a challenging campaign, even from an individual standpoint, scoring just 146 runs in 8 innings and taking only 3 wickets. Recently, the MI captain’s Instagram story fueled rumours of his exit from the franchise, with fans hinting that a move to CSK could be on the cards for the star all-rounder.
In the picture posted on his Instagram story, there was a laptop where a film was playing, a notebook, a pen and his mobile phone. However, what caught the attention of fans was the time displayed on the phone screen. The time showed ’07:07′ and it did not take the internet much time to connect it to MS Dhoni.
Reacting to a recent post from a fan who asked whether CSK should re-sign pacer Matheesha Pathirana if the Kolkata Knight Riders decide to release the Sri Lankan, former India cricketer R Ashwin dropped a cryptic message. The veteran spinner hinted at the specific players the franchise should target to bolster their squad next season.
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While doubling down on Pathirana’s retention, Ashwin also suggested the names of England Test captain Ben Stokes and a mystery player labeled “07:07.” Fans were incredibly quick to link the cryptic player to Hardik, referring to the all-rounder’s recent Instagram post.
Hardik had rejoined MI ahead of IPL 2024 after an all-cash trade deal with Gujarat Titans, a franchise he had led to the title in 2022.
However, since his return to Mumbai, the powerhouse franchise has failed to qualify for the playoffs in two of his three seasons at the helm, including a dismal ninth-place finish in the 2026 edition.
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Since 2009, the Dallas Cowboys have played their home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. For the past decade, the team’s headquarters and training facility have been based at The Star in Frisco — about 36 miles from the stadium.
Meanwhile, second-year Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer lives in McKinney, Texas — about a 30-minute drive from the team facility. To cut down on his daily commute, Schottenheimer has put his sprawling McKinney home on the market to replace it with a property closer to the team facility.
The listing agent for Schottenheimer’s soon-to-be former home said proximity to work ultimately drove the NFL coach’s decision to move.
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“It really is just time being closer to work, and every minute counts, when you’re at that level, for him,” said Carrie Himel, a member of Compass Sports & Entertainment division, told The Dallas Morning News.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer is on the sidelines during the second half against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.(Lon Horwedel/Imagn Images)
The 5,700-square-foot home was listed for $3.8 million as of mid-April, according to Zillow. For tax purposes, the Collin County Appraisal District valued the property at nearly $2 million.
Himel added that the home quickly attracted a buyer.
“It’s a private, serene oasis,” Himel said. “Every window, or every space, in that house looks at nature. So it really is a special property, it just needed a special buyer. We’re fortunate to get one pretty quickly.”
McKinney is located approximately 17 miles from The Star. It is unclear where exactly Schottenheimer intends to purchase his next home.
A general exterior view of Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas, prior to the Big 12 NFL Pro Day on March 20, 2025.(Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
The four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath home was built in 2021, and its amenities include a movie room and an infinity-edge pool, according to the listing. The garage can accommodate three cars.
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Schottenheimer was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach in January 2025 following Mike McCarthy’s exit.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer gives directions prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at AT&T Stadium.(Andrew Dieb/Imagn Images)
The home’s nature-filled setting gave the Schottenheimer family the opportunity to interact with local wildlife.
In late October, Schottenheimer recalled an unusual moment when an owl flew through an open sliding door and into his home during a game-planning meeting prior to a matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The family later contacted animal control to remove the bird.
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The Cowboys finished at 7-9-1 during Schottenheimer’s first year at the helm, falling short of advancing to the playoffs.
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